The country’s first high-altitude snow leopard wildlife safari has been launched in the Union Territory of Ladakh, offering tourists a chance to see snow leopards, Himalayan brown bears, wolves, and other wildlife in their natural habitat.
Ladakh is home to 477 snow leopards, out of a national population of approximately 718. Tourists from across the country and abroad visit Ladakh to witness these big cats in the wild. On Wednesday, Lieutenant Governor Vinay Kumar Saxena inaugurated the wildlife safari in Leh, a move aimed at boosting wildlife tourism and community-based conservation in the region. As part of Wildlife Week 2026, he flagged off six specially designed open-back vehicles for the Ladakh Snow Leopard Safari. This initiative marks the launch of India’s first high-altitude wildlife safari.
AI-Based Device to Help Mitigate Wildlife Conflict
On this occasion, the Lieutenant Governor also inaugurated the first AI-based human-wildlife conflict mitigation device designed to reduce such conflicts in Ladakh. The device aims to foster better coexistence between humans and wildlife and minimize conflict incidents. This initiative is expected to boost wildlife tourism while making local communities active participants in the conservation process.
Measures to Reduce Pressure on Wildlife
The Lieutenant Governor stated that the device is expected to curb activities such as illegal off-roading and the harassment of wildlife. He stated that, given Ladakh’s fragile ecosystem, this model envisions involving local people as guardians of natural resources. By combining community participation, responsible tourism, and technology, this initiative is considered a significant step toward developing a new model for environmental conservation and eco-tourism in the region.
He noted that the objective of this initiative is not merely to boost tourism but to make wildlife tourism responsible, regulated, and conservation-oriented. Limiting the number of tourists, adhering to designated routes, and deploying trained local personnel will help reduce the pressure on wildlife.
The Lieutenant Governor emphasized that the responsibility for environmental conservation in Ladakh should not rest solely with the government; local communities must also be active participants. He stressed the need to strike a balance between wildlife conservation and the livelihoods of local people, noting that local guides should earn income from snow leopard sightings, while women should benefit from conservation-based handicrafts.
**Bird-watching hides to be set up at key locations**
The Lieutenant Governor informed that 20 local youths are being trained in bird identification, bird-watching, and spotting techniques. They will be provided with binoculars, and bird-watching hides will be developed at key bird-viewing sites. This will create employment opportunities for the youth as wildlife guides, bird guides, and nature interpreters. A ‘wild animal felting’ program was also highlighted during the event.
This program involves 50 women from Turtuk, Photoksar, Sangrah, Chushul, and Shargol. Through this initiative, traditional skills and local wool are being linked to conservation-based enterprises. The Lieutenant Governor stated that preserving natural resources is essential for Ladakh’s environmental protection. Announcement made to launch the safari
The Lieutenant Governor’s administration had announced the launch of the safari on August 5. This announcement has been implemented within a span of about two months. In the initial phase, the safari will operate in the Rumbak, Shang, and Ule areas.
During this safari, accompanied by trained local drivers and wildlife guides, tourists will have the opportunity to observe—at close quarters—not only snow leopards but also Himalayan brown bears, wolves, and various other forms of wildlife in these remote regions.
Ladakh is home to over 340 bird species
The initiative to launch the safari holds special significance given the rich wildlife and biodiversity of the Union Territory of Ladakh. Ladakh is home to more than 340 bird species and approximately 1,800 species of vascular plants.
Additional routes for the safari are being identified for the future. These include areas such as Hemis National Park, Changthang, Karakoram Wildlife Sanctuary, Nubra, Zanskar, Sham, Kargil, and Dras.
